Argues that the investigation of the life and personality of textbook authors is one approach by which it is possible to analyze school life in the past. The French text author Lacroix is considered. (PK)

High school biology content was rewritten in an attempt to reduce reading difficulties for students (N=265). After four weeks of use of reduced readability materials, no significant differences in achievement were apparent. (PB)

Analyzes the pedagogic functions of visual images included in school science textbooks and daily press articles about science and technology. Indicates that the science textbooks (a) use 10 times more images, (b) use more images so as to familiarize their readers with the specialized techno-scientific content and codes, and (c) tend to create a…

Discussed is the importance or unimportance of including visuals and illustrations in science textbooks. Characteristics of visuals, misconceptions, individual student differences, publishers views, and recommendations to science teachers when choosing science texts are included. (KR)

Discusses the debate over world history survey courses. Examines eight world history textbooks. Compares the treatment of the following topics: Hammurabi's Code, Buddhism, the fall of the Bastille, and the Korean War. Also reviews goals, use of maps, visuals, and skills involving analysis of primary and secondary sources. (RW)

Examines 11 elementary science texts in terms of conceptual structure and reasoning demands using concept maps. Reports that (1) the conceptual structures vary widely across texts; (2) most of the structures are well defined; and (3) the reasoning demands are above the developmental capabilities of most of primary-level children. (Author/YP)

Examines hedging in textbooks by focusing on the coverage of lexical items as markers of uncertainty and tentativeness. Tentative language continues to be a source of pragmatic failure in the writing of second-language science students. Hence, it is suggested that pedagogic writing materials would benefit from revisions based on authentic data.…

Determined that emergent literacy activities that experts identified as appropriate to instructional materials were not prominent in basal text materials. Found small differences between meaning- and decoding-oriented material in literary quality, letter-sound correspondence, and word identification. (BC)

Presents a study to evaluate the cognitive level of questions in middle school science textbooks. Questions and their location were coded from six randomly selected chapters in eight middle school science textbooks. Results indicated that input level questions were the dominant question type, probably leading to students functioning at lower…

Reviews introductory sociology texts from 1950-89. Reports that heterosexual biases are embedded in sociology as taught. Argues that goals of sociology texts should include the recognition and exploration of difference rather than the homogenization of sexuality. Concludes that, although introductory sociology texts have made advances in…

Study compared two generations of seven high school chemistry texts (1970/1973) and current editions analyzed for gender fairness in illustrations and concrete analogies. Among conclusions was there were significant differences between the old textbooks and newer textbooks in relative frequencies of illustrations of men and woman and no…

A miniresearch project is reported on the attitudes toward minority groups and women in English textbooks used in Israel. The questionnaire and 12 criteria used offer a simple method by which teachers can examine and select materials they review for class use. (LB)

Critiques nine major curriculum texts. Argues the field has failed to produce important research. Looks at citation ratios in curriculum research journals versus other scholarly journals. Explores the impact and influence between curriculum texts and their intended audience. Includes suggestions for a curriculum program from the…

In 2002 a paper entitled "Writing Church-sponsored Religious Education Textbooks" by Engebretson was published in the "British Journal of Religious Education". This paper reported on and analysed some aspects of the development, by the Catholic Archdiocese in Melbourne, Victoria, of a series of religious education textbooks to…

The purpose of this study was to improve the comprehension and problem-solving skills of students with disabilities in social studies using a conceptually framed, computer-adapted history text. Participants were 11th and 12th grade students identified with learning disabilities in reading and writing from two intact, self-contained social studies…